Adjustable table



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL F. BROXVN, OF NElV LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

ADJ USTAB LE TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,162, dated April 28, 1896.

Application fil d March 20, 1895. Serial N 0. 542,481. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL F. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Adjustable Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to adjustable tables of the kind designed for use in holding heavy books, pictures, 650., for sustaining draftingboards, and for similar uses when it is desired to shift the position of the books or the like quickly and by slight exertion.

The object of the present invention is to produce an adjustable table of the kind re.- ferred to which shall be of simple and inexpensive construction, capable of quick changes of positions, and which shall be so made as to be capable of being rigidly held in any desired position.

With these objects in view the invention consists of the novel constructions and combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a front viewof the table, the table-top being shown in a horizontal position and showing the extension for holding wide books or drawings in position for use. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view of the table; and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the supportin g-rod, one of the friction-clamps for securing the table top or board to the rod being removed and the other being shown in position.

In the drawings, A represents the legs of a table, which in the present embodiment of the invention are shown as connected by two boards or plates at a. Extending through the boards or plates a a is a vertical tube A, secured in place in any suitable way, as by the collars a a and the nut a receiving the vertical tube and bearing on the plates or boards a a In the lower part of the tube A is a spiral spring 12, supporting the lower end of the vertical supporting-rod B. The spring prevents jar to the parts of the table in lowering the rod, and its resiliency aids in raising the rod when the table top or board is to be elevated. The rod is retained in any desired position in the tube A by the set-screw l), which pro jects through the tube and bears on the rod.

The rod is provided with a groove 12 into which the end of the set-screw projects, so that the revolution of the rod is prevented. The rod B is provided at its upper end with a horizontal cross-piece B and with a projection B extending from the rod at right angles to the cross-piece B. The extension B is provided with an upturned end b upon which rests a plate connected with the table top or board supported by the vertical rod and which insures the table top or board resting in a horizontal position when the plate connected with it rests upon the end I).

0 represents a table top or board, which is attached by the means now to be described to the vertical supporting-rod B in such way as to be capable of being tilted at will and also of being revolved with greater orless ease,accordin g to the adjustment of the parts, and also of being held in any position in which it may be placed. Secured to. the lower face of the table top or board 0, at about the center thereof, is a plate 0, which has projecting from its center a rod 0, having screw-threads at its lower ends. An

ranged below the plate a and attached thereto by means of the rod 0' and the nut c on the rod is a plate 0 having projecting wings c Interposed between the plates 0 and c is a pad 0 of paper, felt, or the like, the friction whereof against the two plates regulates the rotation of the table top or board attached to the plate 0 independent of the plate 0 By tightening or loosening the nut c and thereby compressing or releasing the pad the amount of force required in the revolution of the table top or board may be governed. By screwing the nut tightly against the lower plate the top may be held against turning.

The table top or board and the parts con nected thereto are attached to the cross-piece of the vertical rod B by a friction-clamp which is capable of adjustment and which permits tilting of the table top or board by the exertion of greater or less exertion or of holding the top rigidly against tilting, as desired. The

preferred means of connection comprises the bars D, provided in their centers with depressions receiving the cross-piece. Two of these bars are arranged on each side of the rod 13, one arranged above and the other below the cross-piece and in contact therewith. The bars are connected to the wings a at one end bybolts dand nuts (1, and at the other ends are connected by bolts (1 and by hand-nuts d By this arrangement it will be seen that the depressions in the bars form bearings for the cross-piece, and by tightening or loosening the hand-nuts d the bars will be pressed against and loosened from the cross-piece, and therefore the amount of force required to tilt the table is regulated. By screwing up the hand-nuts tightly the table top or board may be retained at any desired position.

Attached to the sides of the table top or board 0 and secured in place by cleats e, secured to the lower face of the table top or board are sliding arms E,Which are provided with pivoted fingers e, which are capable of being folded into depressions in the arms. These arms can be extended from the edges of the table top or board and secured in any desired position by thumb-nuts 6 thereby affording, when the fingers e are raised,

means for supporting and retaining in place on the table top or board very long or wide books, maps, drawings, &c.

The table described is adapted for a large number of uses, and among them for supporting and retaining in place on the table top or board a draftsmans drawin g-board, and when constructed for this use 1 preferably attach thereto an instrument-holder F. This instrument-holder, which may be a box or case of any desired form has projecting from its lower end a rod f, which is adjustable by means of the set-screw f'' in the end of the arm f This arm f is pivotally connected to an arm f which in turn is pivotally connected to one of the boards or plates at of the table, so that the instrument-holder may be adjusted at will, both to the height and as to the position relative to the top of the table.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A table having its top capable of being revolved, of being tilted, and of being secured in any desired position, comprising a supporting-rod having a cross-piece at its upper end, a table-top having a plate attached to its lower face, a second plate attached to the first by a screw, a pad interposed between the two plates, and adjustable clamps by which the second plate is attached to the cross piece of the supporting-rod, substantially as described.

2. A table comprising a supportin g-rod having a cross-piece, a table top or board, a plate secured to the lower face of the table top or board, a second plate arranged below the first, a friction-pad arranged between the two plates, means for adjusting the positions of the two plates toward and away from each other and clamps engaging the cross-piece on the supporting-rod and each consisting of two members, one member being attached to the lower plate, and the other member being pivotally secured to the first, at one end and at the other end being secured to the first by adj ustable means, whereby movement of the table top or board in any direction is permitted, and means for retaining the same in any desired position are provided, substantially as described.

A table comprising a supportin g-rod having a cross-piece at its upper end, a stop extending at right angles to the cross-piece, a table top or board, a plate secured to the lower face of the table top or board, a second plate arranged below the first, a friction-pad arranged between the plates, means for adjusting the positions of the two plates toward and away from each other, and clamps consisting of two members one member of each clamp being attached to the lower plate, and the other member being attached to the first by adjustable means, substantially as described.

4. A table comprising a tube having a spiral spring therein, and having a set-screw projecting into the same, a supporting-rod having a longitudinal groove, and provided at its upper end with a cross-piece, and with a stop projecting at right angles to the cross-piece, a table top or board having a plate attached to its lower face, a second plate attached to the first by a screw, a pad interposed between the two plates, and an adjust. ble connection between the second plate and the cross-piece on the supporting-rod, substantially as described.

- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISRAEL F. BROXVN.

\Vi tnesses:

R. C. Mounts, 0. W. BUTLER. 

